Russian Prospects Player review Part One A-D
Anshakov
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Los
Angeles Kings 2002 2nd round pick (50th overall)
2002-03:
Anshakov made a slow transition to the Super League. He was given plenty
of chances early in the season, but failed to deliver. After being benched for
about a month, the young winger returned to the lineup to fill in for an injured
player and made some impact, showing improvement and sticking in the lineup
for the rest of the season. His productivity and ice time were both
significantly reduced when compared to last year in the Upper League. The winger
did manage to make a strong impact on the U20 national team, making the U20
WJC roster, and winning the gold with the Russian squad.
Outlook:
Look for the young winger to have a more significant role with CSKA Moscow
this upcoming season.
2002-03 Season
Statistics
Artemenkov
Calgary
Flames 2002 4th round pick (112th overall)
2002-03:
Artemenkov took a step back in 2003. He was unable to crack the Soviet
Wings lineup and spent the season with the club’s farm team. He
was also unable to earn a spot on the U20 national team.
Outlook:
The speedy left wing will have a strong chance to make the cash strapped
and relegated Soviet Wings in the less competitive Upper League. Hopefully
he can get his development back on track.
2002-03 Season
Statistics
Artukhin
Tampa
Bay Lightning 2001 3rd round pick (94th overall)
2002-03:
Artukhin came over to North America in the 2002 off-season and spent the
year in the QMJHL competing for the Monckton Wildcats. He had a slightly
above mediocre season, not delivering the expected level of productivity.
Artukhin received an invitation to Russia’s U20 squad, helping the team win
the gold medals at the WJC in Canada. His goal was one of most memorable
in the tournament during which he showed impressive speed for a 6’5 forward.
The talented winger left Russia too early and could have still learned a lot
in the Upper League or the premier Super League.
Outlook:
Artukhin will make a strong case for himself, but will not make the Lightning
out of the training camp. He will likely merit a contract from Tampa and
spend the year in the AHL.
2002-03 Season
Statistics
Babchuk
Chicago
Blackhawks 2002 1st round pick (21st overall)
2002-03:
During the summer, Babchuk made a favorable impression on Chicago’s management
and earned a contract with the club. Both sides agreed that he could
still benefit a lot from staying over in Russia, so Babchuk returned to Russia
to fulfill at least one year of his active contract with Super League’s Ak Bars
Kazan. Babchuk was given large chunks of ice time on the top two pairings
on several occasions early in the season, but showed that he wasn’t yet prepared
for that much responsibility. He was then relegated to the bench, and
during the December break in the Super League season, the talented defenseman
signed with SKA St. Petersburg, where he spent the rest of the season.
With SKA, he started off strong, but trailed off a bit towards the end of the
season, falling to the third/fourth defensive pairing. Surprisingly, Babchuk
failed to attract attention from the U20 national team’s coaching staff. He
was clearly one of the best players available and him not being selected was
probably for political reasons, not because of him lacking ability.
Outlook:
Babchuk will make a strong fight for a spot on the weakened Blackhawks blue
line. He will likely start the year in Norfolk, working his way up to the NHL,
depending on his own progress, as well as the success of the Blackhawks with
the lineup they already have.
2002-03 Season
Statistics
Barkunov
Chicago
Blackhawks 2000 5th round pick (151st overall)
2002-03:
Looking back at it now, it may have been very foolish for Barkunov not to sign
to the contract he was reportedly offered by the Blackhawks. He spent
the season with Super League’s Molot Prikamye, but never surfaced from the third/fourth
defensive pairing. Still, playing in the Super League, especially
for a team as bad as Molot, built character and provided Barkunov with valuable
experience.
Outlook:
Look for Barkunov to try to catch on with another Super League squad, if
he doesn’t get another, now probably smaller, offer from the Blackhawks.
2002-03
Season Statistics
Bobrov
Calgary
Flames 2002 5th round pick (146th overall)
2002-03:
Bobrov was a pleasant surprise in 2002-03. He emerged from relative obscurity
to become one of the leading forwards on Upper League’s Elemash Elektrostal,
on loan from CSKA Moscow. Towards the end of the year, the talented winger
even earned an invitation to Russia’s national U20 squad at the first warm up
tournament for the 2004 U20 WJC in St. Petersburg.
Outlook:
Bobrov will likely return to CSKA and compete for a spot on the strong Super
League squad. If he is unsuccessful, look for the winger to be loaned to an
Upper League team. Wherever he plays, Bobrov will likely earn at
least one more invitation to Russia’s U20 national squad in the fall.
2002-03 Season
Statistics
Bryzgalov
Anaheim
Mighty Ducks 2000 2nd round pick (44th overall)
2002-03:
Bryzgalov finished up his second year in North America. After a rough
start, Bryzgalov leveled off and delivered a solid performance. The talented
goaltender could only do so much behind the mediocre Cincinnati squad, but he
still had a solid save percentage and unlike the previous year, he retained
the starting role on the squad and delivered a much more consistent performance
throughout the season.
Outlook:
Bryzgalov is entering the last year of his contract and has already
showed on several occasions that he is a capable NHL caliber goaltender.
With Giguere cemented in place, he will not see the starting role in Anaheim
any time soon, but the back up position may be open for competition. Look
for the young goaltender to make another strong run for the NHL spot and beat
out Martin Gerber for the back up role.
But
New
Jersey Devils 1998 5th round pick (119th overall), rights
owned by the Tampa Bay Lightning
2002-03:
Anton But started the season off red hot, leading the Super League in points
and goals. After two months, he leveled off a bit and the coaching staff
moved him around the deep Lokomotiv lineup. But showed a very mature game,
following up a mediocre 2001-02 season with a strong performance. The
young forward also earned a couple of invitations to the national team, though
it seemed the busy scheduled fatigued him.
Outlook:
Tampa Bay Lightning acquired But’s rights from New Jersey last year and
he has thus far fulfilled their expectations. Look for the NHL club to sign
the young winger and bring him over to North America. He may earn a spot
on the Lightning, but is more likely to start in the AHL.
2002-03 Season
Statistics
Chernov
Dallas
Stars 2000 6th round pick (162nd overall)
2002-03:
Artem Chernov rebounded from a mediocre 2001-02 season with a solid performance.
The young center seemed to have the knack to be in the right spot at the right
time, scoring a lot of his goals on the rebounds. Chernov was one
of Avangard’s most productive players.
Outlook:
Chernov has one more year left on his contract with Avangard and will likely
remain there, taking on a more significant role. It is unclear as to what
plans the Dallas Stars have for this young center. He has been steadily
developing well thus far and they may bring him over this summer for a closer
look.
2002-03 Season
Statistics
Denisov
Buffalo
Sabres 2000 5th round pick (149th overall)
2002-03:
Denisov spent the 2002-03 season with the Salavat Yulayev Ufa, on
loan from the Soviet Wings. He delivered a strong performance throughout
the season, anchoring Ufa’s defensive corps. Denisov then earned a promotion
to the national team, accompanying the squad to the 2003 IIHF World Championships
in Finland. In April 2003, Ak Bars Kazan’s management announced his signing
with the club, which caused a load of unpleasantries, since Denisov’s contract
with Salavat did not expire until May. The Kazan club retracted their
statement, and Denisov also denied a contract, avoiding any repercussions.
He then signed a deal with Kazan in mid May, after his deal with Salavat Yulayev
finally expired.
Outlook:
Buffalo is in a rebuilding mode and could benefit greatly from a young,
mature defenseman such as Denisov. It remains to be seen if they will
go after him with a contract offer. If they do – he could be one of the
surprises of 2003-04 season. If not, then he will be one of the top six defensemen
with Ak Bars Kazan and deliver another solid year.
2002-03 Season
Statistics
Dobryshkin
Atlanta
Thrashers 1999 6th round pick (159th overall)
2002-03:
After a sub par 2001-02 season with the Ak Bars Kazan, Dobryshkin left Kazan
and signed a two year deal with Severstal Cherpovets. This move
elevated him from the third to the first line of a very competitive team.
While with Kazan, he played the role of a gritty, third line checking forward
with a scoring touch, and played the role well. With Severstal, Dobryshkin
started the season on a tear, eventually earning the league’s lead in goals
and points. Things worked out for him with the new team, where he was
reunited with his old linemate Nikitenko and also lined up with Calgary’s young
prospect Yuri Trubachev. Dobryshkin’s fatigue started to show by
the winter break in the season, when he was called up to Russia’s first and
second senior squads in Moscow and France, respectively. He returned
a tired man and significantly cooled off in the month of January. Towards
the end of the season, however, he returned to his early season form and his
production blossomed once again.
Outlook:
Though drafted relatively late in the '99 entry draft, Dobryshkin has significant
upside and could really help a team like Atlanta. He will likely
remain with Severstal next season and if his productivity is along the same
levels as this year, Atlanta is bound to sign the versatile winger.
Drozdetsky
Philadelphia
Flyers 2000 3rd round pick (94th overall)
2002-03:
After spending the 2001-02 season on the failing Red Army squad, Drozdetsky
was loaned to Spartak Moscow. Unfortunately, during the off-season the
old Red Army squad that was relegated out of the Super League was folded into
Viktor Tikhonov’s HC CSKA, and Tikhonov wanted the star forward back. So, after
a spectacular preseason with Spartak, Drozdetsky joined the new CSKA.
The talented winger started the season very well, averaging almost a goal a
game, but after a month, his scoring declined and he seemed to disappear for
almost the rest of the season. Towards the end of the season, CSKA made a surprise
run at a playoff spot and though a lot of it had to do with the team’s goaltending
and defense, Drozdetsky’s scoring was also revived and he returned to form during
last two months.
Outlook:
A favorite of Philadelphia’s European scout, Drozdetsky is likely to receive
an offer this summer. It has been common knowledge that he is looking
to play in the NHL, and the Flyers are likely to give him that chance.
If motivated properly, his goal scoring impact could be significant right away–
at the levels of Sushinsky in Minnesota, only without the attitude.
